RECHTBANK MAASTRICHT - The court in Maastricht has suspended a court clerk for suspected serious dereliction of duty. In two criminal cases in 2007, the clerk failed to elaborate the minutes of hearings, as a result of which court decisions were not implemented and the handling of the cases was considerably delayed. One case involved aggravated assault; the second involved lewdness. The court has apologized to the total of eight victims. An external investigation should clarify where things went wrong.